Registered

My Mac 3,1 running El Capitan is randomly shutting down. I'm wondering is there a way or piece of software that can log what is causing the shutdown? Before I start replacing parts I want to have at least an educated guess as to what is causing these shutdowns.

My system config is below. I've also attached a .pdf of the crash reports following the shutdowns.

And of course....like many of you out there, I'd love to replace it with a new Mac Pro..........but alas.....there isn't one....

Thanks in advance for any help you might be able to offer.

best,

Fred

Hardware Overview:

Model Name: Mac Pro

Model Identifier: MacPro3,1

Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Xeon

Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz

Number of Processors: 2

Total Number of Cores: 8

L2 Cache (per Processor): 12 MB

Memory: 32 GB

Bus Speed: 1.6 GHz

Boot ROM Version: MP31.006C.B05

SMC Version (system): 1.25f4

Attachments

Rosie Moderator

Some questions:
What are you running when it shuts down?
Is the machine running hot? Check the vents to make sure they are clear of those dust bunnies. Once it cools down, open the machine and check the fans to make sure there is not dust slowing it down.

Registered

My Mac is as in my signature. Suddenly, the Mac turned off. I rebooted, it worked doing the normal surfing for underaged lichen porn . . . shut off. This was with the power cord connected.

Would not turn on again! With the power cord connected! With "thoughts and prayers" and the sacrifice of a virgin!

No one you know. . . .

So I removed the battery. Why? Because perhaps there is a problem with the battery?

"BOOM!" Boots all of that.

Put the battery back in and reconnect it?

No boot. No nothing, not a chime.

Disconnect the battery with power connected: BOOT without re-pressing the Start Up button!

I reset the SMC. I "Zapped the Pram." I even ran EntreCheck.

So I bought a new battery.

Whilst it traveled to my humble domicile, I ran the computer without a battery. Other than running slow, everything was fine. Could boot, restart, everything runs well but slow. Searching explained the issue of how the computer will try to run that way without an actual battery in it.

New battery arrives, put it in!

No Boot.

So is there a problem with the logic board connected directly to the battery? Saw nothing "weird."

Disconnect the battery, connect power cords, BOOT!

Now, the new battery works. If I disconnect the power, the computer does not die. The battery is charging--started at 75% out of the box. It is happily now at 88%.

The one difference is that it is not shutting down suddenly as it did twice with the older battery. I did re-reset the SMC since it is a new battery, but I have not tried shutting-down-powering up with the battery connected since fu[CENSORED – Ed.]k that! For maintenance I will just log out and log in.

Unless someone has an idea.

Searching only brings up the reset for the SMC and PRAM. Or buy a new computer!

I could see a bad battery causing an error somehow. I could see this "new" battery being "bad" as well I suppose.

The good news is when this happened, it took about two minutes for the computer to shut off again. Currently, it has been alive with the battery connected for the composition of this missive.

––––––
After over an hour, so far so good with it not shutting off suddenly. I can now confirm the claim that you need an internal battery. With it connected EntreCheck is so much more happy with the performance!

Registered

Let the Macbook run along during the night. Stayed booted. No shut-down.

Tried a reboot. Success!

So now the final test: t3h d34dly Shutdown!

No boot!

You have to disconnect the battery. Once you reattach the powercord, it starts to boot. So it is if by attaching the battery, this prevents a start up after a power-down, but once the battery is disconnected, and the power cord reconnected, it is able to . . . start? Without repressing the Startup button?

Reconnect the battery and everything runs fine.

So whatever "died" I am not sure what it is. Nothing else is effected.

Rosie Moderator

Registered

I can "replace a part" if that will solve the problem or prevent something "bad" from happening. I am not sure what it would be other than the logic board since that is what the battery connect to. Replacements cost ~$300 which is less than a new computer of course! I am a little confused that the "shut downs" did not recur with the new battery. Just the inability to power up the Mac after a shutdown.

Registered

Let the Macbook run along during the night. Stayed booted. No shut-down.

Tried a reboot. Success!

So now the final test: t3h d34dly Shutdown!

No boot!

You have to disconnect the battery. Once you reattach the powercord, it starts to boot. So it is if by attaching the battery, this prevents a start up after a power-down, but once the battery is disconnected, and the power cord reconnected, it is able to . . . start? Without repressing the Startup button?

Reconnect the battery and everything runs fine.

So whatever "died" I am not sure what it is. Nothing else is effected.